Wolves Pose Threat in Indian Trails

A group of three wolves has been making repeated appearances recently in the Indian Trails Subdivision on the south side of Jackson.  Most recently, a video of a pair walking through the back yards there went viral.  US Fish and Wildlife Wolf Recovery Coordinator for Wyoming Mike Jinenez says it was hoped the wolves would be passing through in their search for a new range, but now it appears that is not the case.   Jimenez says the animals seemed to have left for a little while, but came back over the past couple weeks.  Now, he says, they are becoming bolder and getting closer to houses and running through yards mid-day.  With families and pets using their yards as well as hiking paths riding trails in the area, Jimenez says this is not an appropriate place for wolves to settle.  As such, Jimenez says these wolves will have to be removed.  Jimenez says while nobody wants to have to kill wolves, they cannot be allowed to be in housing developments and posing threats to people’s children, pets or the people themselves as they walk through their neighborhoods.  Jimenez says elk and deer typically move through the general area so the valley is in good proximity to prey and has not been claimed by other wolves.  He says this is a classic time of the time of year wolves disburse into new areas and seek new ranges.